Container seal



Nov. 25, 1958 R. T. THOMPSON 2,861,710

v CONTAINER SEAL Filed Feb. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l fal/ R. T. THOMPSON 2,861,710

CONTAINER SEAL Nov. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24. 1956 .EZZELZF maar N30/wmf United States Patent() CGNTAINER SEAL Robert T. Thompson, Palatine, lll.

Application February 24, 1956, Serial No. 567,492

13 Claims. (Cl. 220-27) The present invention relates to container sealing and accessmeans, and moreparticularly relates to a new and improved container sealing device and means providing for simplified and more convenientr and improved opening of a container such as a conventional can.

Still more particularly, the present invention is directed to a container with sealing means therefor provding convenient and easy access means for discharging the contents of the can without need or use of any special tools such as keys or cutting type can openers or other special devices. By the present invention a container may be opened merely by exerting manual pulling force on the sealing device.

Additionally, containers and sealing devices incorporating the principles of this invention may be opened in any number of ways such as removal of the entire container top, removal of a majority of the -container top, or removal of only such parts of the container top as are necessary for access to the contents of the can. For example, in a beverage can or a can containing other liquids, it may be highly desirable merely to provide a pair of apertures in the can, one of which is for pouring and the other of which is for venting. With the same type of contents, it may be desired to open but a single aperture in the can and equip the can with a self contained straw, an end of which will pop when the can seal is removed, permitting access to the can. These and many additional features and advantages obtain through the utilization of this invention.

By the present invention any part of the can top or the entire can top or parts of the can top can be removed or exposed or apertures in the can top may be exposed providing access to the contents of the can by sealing the can top or any part or parts thereof or any apertures therein with a seal formed from spirally wound elongated length of wire, the convolutions of which are sealed together and the entire spiral of which is sealed to the can top or over the parts to be removed or over an aperture therein or between the can top and the side walls of the ycan by a material of the sufficiently low tensile strength to be broken under ordinary manual force but of a sufciently Yhigh tensile strength to withstand forces developed from fluid pressures within the can.

Thus, it is an important object, feature and Vadvantage of -the I`present invention to provide a new and improved container sealing means and access providing means.

Another object of the present Yinvention is to provide a new and improved container seal readily removable for access -to the lcontainer `without supplementary tools etc.

-and 'merely through the use vof manual pulling force.

Still another object of the present invention is to providela new and improved container seal of spirally wound elongated wire, the convolutions of which are sealed to- -gether and tothe container at the top thereof.

Yet another object -of the present invention issto provide anew and improved containerseal having one or more spirally wound .portions .thereof overlying an aperture or a knockout in ythe container top, said seal arranged substantially Vin one plane with'its convolutions wound about a fixed center and continually receding from said centenand said sealsecured .to the container top, yet readily removable vtherefrom by .manual force breaking the sealing means and unwind-ing `the `convolutions until the aperture is uncovered or the knockout withdraws from the container top with .the unwound convolutions.

' There are numerous other objects, features and ,advantages to the present invention and .many of these will readily appear from 1the following detailed descrip- .tion of the present invention and-embodiments thereof, from the claims, Vand from the accompanying drawings 'in which each and every detailshow-n is 4fully and completely disclosed asa Ypart-of this specification, in which s like reference vnumerals refer to like parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan `illustration of aA spirally wound wire sealing member embodying the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a plan View of a container sealed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view of the container of Figure 2 viewed as taken substantially along the line VIII---III of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmental sectional view like Figure 3 'but illustrating another form of this invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmental sectional view of still another form-of `the invention and is like Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a full 'sectional view of a container having .still another form of sealing thereof in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Figure 7 is va fragmental sectional view of a container having still another form of sealing thereof in accordance with this invention; and

- Figure 8 is a fragmental sectional view of a container having still another form of sealing thereof in accordance .with the principles of thsinvention. x

One form of sealing a container in accordance with the principles of the invention employs the utilization of a spirally wound wire such as is illustrated in Figure 1. The wire itself may be of any desired composition so long as it is lutilizable for the purposes of this invention. YOne typical example of such a wire may be a tinned copper wire that is solderable either through direct :application of heat or through radio frequency heating .and soldering etc. When applying soldering to hold the -convolutions together, the solder also forms a seal between the adjacentconvolutions so that the adjacent convvolutions are actually sealed against fluid or other material ow therebetween.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the closure seal 10 has a series of convolutions 11-11 extending entirely to the center of a spiral, 4as at 12, vand all `of the convolutions are sealed together through the medium of a securing vmeans such as solder. The particular solder employed `may be of Aany,number of desired compositions. Here it -is preferred. that ,the vlead and tin proportions thereof be varied to 4an optimum condition :of tensile strength permlttinggmanual 'force breaking of the seal between adjacent .convolutionsand yet Ahaving sufficient strength to withstandiluid pressures .from within a container such as a vbeverage container wherein the gas pressures rise to irelativelyvhigh levels. In the form of spiral wire sealing fmember shown in vFigure 1 there has been provided a single spiral having its outside loop lead to a linger loop V13 at the -free end .of the wire thereby providing means accommodating exerting manual force on the spiral to .strip the .convolutions .apart by unwinding. This finger :tion of the wire. l

This form of single spiral and finger loop sealing member may be employed with any of the containers illustrated in Figures 2 through 8 but achieves maximum utilization in the form of can sealing illustrated in Figure 6 described in detail hereinafter.

rIn the form of invention illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the elongated wire is formed from a pair of flat spirals -15 at opposite ends of a wire with an intermediate linking portion 16. These spirals 15-15 overlie punched apertures 17-17, respectively, in a can top 17 forming a part of a conventional'can 18.

The top 17 of this can 18 is sealed to the cylindrical side walls 19 in a conventional manner by having a roll formed bead 20 therebetween. This bead 20,V as is conventional in can manufacture, has a rolled over edge on the upper end of the side walls 19 and a double rolled edge at the outer periphery of the can tops 17 interlocking with the rolled edge on the side walls 19. The particular form of the present invention illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 is especially adaptable to cans containing beverages and other liquids inasmuch as it provides a double aperture opening in the can for access to the liquids, thereby providing a pouring aperture and a venting aperture. While both of the apertures are shown as being substantially identical, it will be readily understood that this is merely by way of convenience of illustration description and that the apertures may have any desired configuration thus adapted to pouring and venting as desired. Y

The spiral seals 15--15 overlie the apertures 17-17' and are soldered or secured otherwise as desired to the top 17 of the can by either direct heat soldering or radio frequency soldering etc. as is found most expedient. Again, the solder employed will have an optimum tensile strength suiciently low to permit manual removal of the spirals and yet withstand the force of pressures fromwithin the can.

Removal of the sealing spirals 15--15 is most easily and conveniently elected for access to the contents of the container merely by pulling the finger tab portion 16 of the wire forming the double spirals thereby unwinding the spirals until a suthcient number of the convolutions thereof have been removed from the can top 17 to effectively break the spirals loose from the can top thereby exposing the apertures 17' and permitting access to the contents ofthe containen While the ilat spirals 15-15 of this form of the invention are shown as fully overlying the apertures and being fixed onto the upper outer surface of the can top 17, it will also be understoodvthat the present invention is equally effective should the spirals he of lesser diameter than that shown so that they will set onto the bosses 21-21 converging inwardly about the apertures 17'-17. Such a correlation between the spiral seals and the bossed apertures provides the additional advantages of a smooth top on the can as well as prelocating the spirals with the apertures for high speed production and radio frequency soldering or sealing.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4 the can 22 is identical with the can 18 inasmuch as its top 23 and side walls 24 are identical with the corresponding parts 17 and 19 of the can 18 and they are sealed together in a roll formed seal 25 identical with the seal 20. The apertures 26-26 in the can top 23, however, are sealed by a double spiral conically formed seal 27-27 interconnected by a nger pull tab 28. These conical spiral seals 27-27 are otherwise the same as the at spiral seals 15--15 in that adjacent convolutions thereof are sealed together and the outer convolutions are sealed onto the ange lips or bosses 29-29 of the apertures 2626. This form of seal provides still additional pressure resisting strength to withstand uid pressures from within the can in the event that the beverage within the can is a carbonated beverage or the fluid within the can is a uid having a volatility of'a proper level to provide a relatively high uid pressure within the can.

The flat double spiral form of seal is also employed in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 on a container 30 very similar to the containers 18 and 22 in that the sides 31 may be identical with the sides 19 and 24 and further with a topl 32 roll formed seal as at 33 with the sides 31 in the same manner that the tops 17 and 23 are roll formed sealed as at 20 and 25 to the sides 19 and 24, respectively. In this form of the invention, however, the apertures in the can have knockouts 34-34 therein by providing the can top with a pair of cuts 35-35 which are annular in form, or have any other desired configuration, but which do not extend entirely through the thickness of the can top 32. instead, the cuts 35-35, while peripherally complete, extend inwardly from the outer surface of the can top 32 to a plane closely adjacent to the inner surface of the can top thereby very substantially weakening the can top in the regions of the cuts so that the knockouts 34-34 may be removed with the sealing spirals 36--36 secured thereover on the can top. As in the form of spirals and linger tab illustrated in the embodiment of the invention of Figures 2 and 3, the flat spirals 36-36 of Figure 5 are interconnected by a iinger pull link intermediate portion of wire 37. In this form of the invention the at spirals are sealed onto the can top 32 overlying the knockouts and are removable by pulling the linger tab 37 to unwind the convolutions of the spirals 36-36 until they are of a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of the knockouts at which time the knockouts will pull out with the spirals thereby leaving open apertures in the top 32 of the can 30.

This form of the invention permits manufacture and utilization of a can with an unbroken surface on the interior of a can as in a conventional can thereby providing a still greater safety against contamination of any food products within the can or container since there is no possible breaking of the lacquer interior nish to the can before actually opening the apertures in the can by removal of the knockouts from the apertures.

In Figure 6 there is illustrated still another can 38 substantially identical to the cans 18, 22 and 30. In this figure, the entire can is shown in cross-section so that there is also seen the can bottom 39 roll sealed as at 40 to the can side walls 41. The top 42 of the can 38 is roll sealed as at 43 to the side walls 41 in the conventional manner.

In this form of the invention, however, the center of the can top 42 is apertured as at 44 and the metal is drawn into the can or spun or punched inwardly of the can. The inwardly drawn portion 4S of the can top 42 about the aperture 44 in the top serves as a guide for the upper free end 46 of a plastic or similar noncontaminating material straw 47 that may be preinserted in a beverage can. The straw 47 will have an axial length somewhat greater than the axial distance between the can top 42 and the can bottom 39 so that it will bend as at 48 but pop up straight and extend above the top surface of the can top 42 when the seal spiral 49 is removed.

The sealing spiral 49, as started hereinabove, isrpreferably of the form shown in Figure 1 and not only overlies the aperture region of the can top 42 but also holds the straw 47 in the can.

Removal of the spiral sealing unit 49, which is secured to the can top as are the other spirals described hereinabove in conjunction with Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, is eiected by pulling the linger loop tab free end of the wire 50 to break the sealing means and unwind the convolutions until the spiral is of suiciently small diameter to be free of the aperture region of the can top. As in the case of the spirals 15-15 of Figure 2, the spiral 49 of Figure 6 may be of a suiciently small A diameter :toi liewithin afboss regionlSl in .the lcenter of thecan top 42 for 'convenience' .ofA placement` or'radio frequency sealing and high production sealing and to provide the can with 'a small flattop. as desired.

These and many other modifications, however, are

clearly apparent and clearlyv fall within the spirit and scope of this invention. y Still additional formsiof the instant invention are illustrated in lFigures 7 and 8 for opening theentire top region of the can as by removal ofthe entire top of the can or a Very large portion of the can top. These forms of the invention,. and particularly the form of the invention of Figure 8, are adaptable for kopening also smaller areas of the can top as will be explained hereinbelorw in conjunction with Figure 8.

In Figure 7 there is ."shown a form of the invention for removal `of the entire cantop and in this embodiment the can side walls 52 of the can r53 yterminate in an voutwardly flangedupperend 54 with aslight upwardly-.extending lip T55 thereon `at the outer. end thereof. The can top-56 is provided with anl upwardlystepped outwardly extending ange 57 at the outer peripherythereof with the step .in the ange of the top .56 having a lesser vdiameter than 'the diameter of thelip 55 on the yflange 54 ofthe side walls 52 in the can 53. This facilitates theutilization of an open center conically or flat spirally wound sealing unitin accordance with the 4principlesfof thisinvention. In the embodiment ofaFigure 7.spi ral1y `Wound sealing unit 58 is shown' as conically formed, but it is understood that the sealing unit may be ator conical Vas desired. lhe sealing unit 58 is somewhat different than the sealing units utilized inthe. embodiments ofthe invention illustrated in Figures l throughV 6 in that it is open centeredv rather than 'fully closed and is vso formed for this embodiment of the invention that it has an inner diameter substantially the vsame asy that of the step in the llange 57 on the top cover56 and so that it has an outside diametersubstantially the same as that of` the lip 55 on the flange 54 of the' yside walls 52. This permits extremely convenient assembly by Imerely resting the secured togetherandV sealed convolutions on the flange 54 of the can side walls 52 :and then resting the can top 56on the spiralseal member 58 with'the anges andmsteps in the sealing member all -interfitting for eicient, convenient and easy high speed production line sealing of the cans. A free end from one of the outer convolutions of the spirally formed wire will form a pull `tab-umich thesame as thepull tab finger ring of the spiral seal member-illustrated inV Figure 1 and illustrated again in Figure 6 so that amere pulling of the pull tab and finger lring forthe 4spiral wirevseal of Figure` 7 Will unwindthe outer con-volution torerriove the entire can top and seal from the can 53 of Figure 7.

A similar open 'center-'spiral wir'eseal member is utilized inf the form of they instant invention illustrated in ,1.

Figure 8 wherein the can 59 has side walls 60 sealed to the can top 61 in a conventional roll seal 62. In this form of the invention, however, the can top is apertured as at 63 with an inwardly stepped ange 64 about the periphery of the aperture 63. This stepped flange 64 is then operative to receive a cover plate 65 thereon covering the entire aperture 63. The cover plate 65 is then sealed to the can top 61 about the outer periphery of the cover 65 by an open center at or conical, depending upon the slope or atness of the can top center region, spirally wound sealing member 66 with the outer convolutions thereof sealed onto the can top 61 and the inner convolutions thereof sealed onto the cover 65. A pull tab or finger ring like the pull tab finger ring of the embodiments of the invention of Figures l and 6, formed on the free end extending from an outer convolution then provides an easy and convenient spiral unwinding and seal breaking means through the utilization of mere manual force so that unwinding the outer con- -volutions results-in a breaking of the seal and suflcientA unwinding permits readily "convenient removal of the cover and access to thecontents of the can S9.

From the foregoing it will be readilyseen that there are numerous modifications and variations that can be elected Without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel Vconcepts of this invention and included within this invention. Such a modification might be ,the utilization of plastic or thermoplastic materials whereby soldering may be avoided and the spiral seal members may be sealed to the containers by the mere utilization `of heat and/0r pressure or through the utilization of special chemicals, etc., effecting the sealing in the desired manner. Therefore, I' intend to cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts and principles of 'this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A container and sealing means 'therefor comprising, a container'having sidewalls, a'bottom peripherally sealed to an end of 'said side walls, and a metallic top peripherally sealed -to an opposite endof said side walls, an aperture in saidtop, and a seal, 'said seal comprising anelongated wire wound in a flat spiral substantially in one plane, said seal secured to said top and covering said aperture, said seal being secured to said top and between adjacent convolutions thereof by a material of sufficiently low tensile strength to be broken manually.

2. A container' and sealing means therefor comprising, a container having side walls, a bottom peripherally sealed to an end of said side walls, and a metallic top peripherally sealed to an' opposite end of said side walls, an aperture in said t'op,"a'nd a' spirally' wound elongated wire seal, said seal wound in at spiral' substantially in one plane, said seal'secured Vto said top and covering saidaperture, said wire seal being secured to said top and betweenv adjacent convolutions thereof by a material of sufficiently low tensile strength to be broken manually and suflciently high tensile strength to withstand forces resulting from lluid pressure within the container.

3. A container and sealing means therefor comprising, a container having side walls, a 'bottom peripherally sealed to an end of said side walls, and a metallic top peripherally sealed to an opposite end of said side walls, a pair of apertures in said top, an elongated wire seal secured to said top `and having a pair of spirally wound portions covering said apertures, each portion comprising convolutions wound substantially in one' plane, said wire Vseal'beingV secured to said top and between adjacent consealed to yan end'of' said side walls, `and'a metallic top peripherally sealed to an opposite end of said side Walls, a pair of apertures in Ysaid top, `an"elongated wire seal secured to said top and having a pair of spirally wound portions covering said apertures, each portion comprising convolutions wound substantially in one plane, said Wire seal being secured to said top and between adjacent convolutions thereof by material of sufficiently low tensile strength to be broken manually, said wire having an intermediate portion thereof forming a pull tab whereby both of said spiral portions may be removed by manual force on said pull tab.

5. A container and sealing means therefor comprising, a container having side Walls, a bottom peripherally sealed to an end of said side walls, and a metallic top peripherally sealed to an opposite end of said side Walls, a pair of apertures in said top, an elongated wire seal secured to said top and having a pair of conically spirally wound portions covering said apertures, convolutions of said spiral portions Wound about a fixed center and continually receding fro-m it, said Wire seal being secured to said top and between adjacent convolutions thereof by a solder material of sufficiently low tensile.

strength to be broken manually.

6. A container and sealing means therefor comprising, a container having side walls, a bottom peripherally sealed to an end of said side walls, and a metallic top peripherally sealed to an opposite end of said side walls, a pair of apertures in said top, and elongated wire secured t-o said top and having a pair of at spirally wound portions covering said apertures, the convolutions of said portions wound in one plane about a xed center, said wire being sealed to said top and between adjacent convolutions thereof by a solder material of suciently low tensile strength to be broken manually.

7. A container and sealing means therefor comprising, a container having side walls, a bottom peripherally sealed to an end of said side walls, and a metallic top peripherally sealed to an opposite end of said side walls, an aperture in said top, a knockout filling said aperture, a spirally wound elongated Wire secured to said top and to said knockout and covering said aperture, the convolutions of said spirally wound elongated wire arranged in one plane about a xed center, said wire being sealed to said top and said knockout and between adjacent convolutions thereof by a material of suiciently low tensile strength to be broken manually to permit removal of said wire by unwinding the same and removal of said knockout as said knockout is secured to said wire.

8. A container and sealing means therefor comprising, a container having side. walls, a bottom peripherally sealed to an end of said side walls, and a metallic top peripherally sealed to an opposite end of said side walls, a pair of apertures in said top, an elongated wire secured to said top and having a pair of spirally wound portions covering said apertures, said portions comprising convolutions Wound about a fixed center in one plane and receding from said center, said wire being sealed to said top and between adjacent convolutions thereof by a material of sufficiently low tensile strength to be broken manually, and knockouts lling said apertures and removable with said wire.

9. A container and sealing means therefor comprising, -a container having side walls, a bottom peripherally sealed to an end of said side walls, and a metallic top peripherally sealed to an opposite end of said side walls, an aperture in said top, and a conically spirally wound elongated wire seal, the convolutions of said seal wound in juxtaposition and with the apex thereof extending downwardly Within said aperture, said seal secured to said top and covering said aperture, said wire seal being secured to said top and between adjacent convolutions thereof by a material of sulciently low tensile strength to be broken manually.

10. In combination with a container having side walls yand top and bottom Walls secured and sealed to said side walls, access means in the top wall of the container for removal of contents of the container including an opening in said wall and a seal, said seal formed of a spirally wound elongated wire with its convolutions arranged substantially in one plane and wound about a fixed center and continually receding from it, said convolutions soldered together, said seal soldered to said top wall of said container, said solder permitting unwinding `of the seal by manual force and effective to permit removal of at least a portion of the seal upon at least partial unwinding of the said wire.

11. lIn combination with a container having side walls and top and bottom walls secured and sealed to said side walls, access means for removal of the entire top of the container and the contents of the container including a spirally wound elongated wire seal arranged between said top and the upper portion of said side walls, the convolutions of said seal wound in juxtaposition and soldered together, said seal secured to said top and side walls of said container by solder permitting unwinding thereof by manual force and effective to permit removal of the entire top upon at least partial unwinding of the said wire.

l2. In combination with a container having side walls and top and bottom walls secured and sealed to said side walls, access vmeans for removal ofA contents of the container including an aperture in said top wall, a cover to overlie said aperture in said top wall, and a spirally wound elongated wire seal, the convolutions of said seal wound substantially in one plane in juxtaposition and soldered together, said seal secured to said top wall of said container and to said cover by means permitting unwinding thereof by manual force and eiective to. permit removal thereof and of said cover Vupon at least partial unwinding of said wire.

13. In combination with a container having side walls and top and bottom walls secured and sealed to Vsaid side walls, access means for removal of contents of the container including a plurality of apertures in said top wall, a spirally wound elongated wire seal having spirally wound convolutions thereof wound about a xed center and receding from it, said convolutions secured together and to said top wall of said container and over said lapertures respectively by solder permitting unwinding thereof by manual force and eiective to permit removal of the spirally wound portions of said wire upon at least partial unwinding of said Wire.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 297,738 Allen Apr. 29, 1884 635,810 Robinson ocr. 31, 1899 FOREIGN PATENTS 240,782 Great Britain' Dec. 3o, 1924 

